Jenny Han Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide
Jenny Han is best known for two bestselling young adult trilogies: The Summer I Turned Pretty and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Her books often center on first love, family, friendship, growing up, and the complicated emotions that come with major changes in a young person’s life.
But those two trilogies represent only part of Han’s bibliography. She also co-wrote the darker Burn for Burn trilogy with Siobhan Vivian, wrote the middle-grade Clara Lee book, and began her publishing career with Shug. This guide separates the series so you can follow each story in the right order.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Books in Order
The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin and the summers she spends at Cousins Beach with her family and the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah.
All three books form one continuous story, so they should be read in publication order.
1. The Summer I Turned Pretty (2009)
Belly has spent every summer at Cousins Beach with her mother, brother Steven, and her mother’s best friend Susannah and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. But this particular summer is different because Belly is growing up and beginning to see the boys, and herself, differently.
The novel establishes the relationships and summer traditions that drive the rest of the trilogy.
2. It’s Not Summer Without You (2010)
The carefree summers at Cousins Beach have changed after a devastating loss. Belly is forced to deal with grief while her relationship with Conrad and Jeremiah becomes increasingly complicated.
The second book takes the emotional story established in The Summer I Turned Pretty into a much more difficult stage of growing up.
3. We’ll Always Have Summer (2011)
Belly has to make one of the biggest decisions of her young life as her relationships with Conrad and Jeremiah reach a turning point.
The final book brings the original trilogy’s central love triangle and Belly’s coming-of-age story toward its conclusion.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Books in Order
The To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy follows Lara Jean Covey, whose private love letters unexpectedly become public.
Unlike The Summer I Turned Pretty, which revolves around summers at Cousins Beach, this trilogy focuses more heavily on Lara Jean’s family, school life, friendships, and romantic relationships.
1. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2014)
Lara Jean writes secret letters to every boy she has ever loved but never intends to send them. Her carefully hidden letters are suddenly mailed, turning her private feelings into a very public problem.
The book introduces Lara Jean, her sisters Margot and Kitty, and the relationship that becomes the center of the trilogy.
2. P.S. I Still Love You (2015)
Lara Jean’s romantic life becomes more complicated when another recipient of one of her letters enters the picture.
As she tries to understand what she really wants, Lara Jean also has to deal with friendship, jealousy, family, and the challenges of her first serious relationship.
3. Always and Forever, Lara Jean (2017)
Lara Jean reaches the final stage of high school and begins thinking seriously about college, family, and her future.
Her relationship with Peter Kavinsky is tested by the possibility of going in different directions, making this a story about growing up as much as it is about romance.
The three books are the complete original To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy. Jenny Han’s official site lists all three as part of her main bibliography.
Clara Lee Books in Order
Jenny Han’s Clara Lee series is much shorter than her two major YA trilogies.
1. Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream (2011)
Clara Lee is a young Korean American girl who dreams of being crowned Little Miss Apple Pie. As she navigates school, friendships, family, and her own worries about fitting in, Clara discovers more about herself and what matters to her.
This is currently the only published Clara Lee novel. Current bibliographies list it as a standalone entry in the Clara Lee series.
Burn for Burn Books in Order
The Burn for Burn trilogy was co-written by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian. It has a noticeably darker tone than Han’s better-known romantic trilogies, combining friendship, revenge, romance, mystery, and suspense.
The three books form one continuous story and should be read in order. Simon & Schuster identifies all three as part of The Burn for Burn Trilogy.
1. Burn for Burn (2012)
Jar Island looks like the perfect summer destination, but beneath its picturesque surface, three teenage girls are dealing with very different kinds of betrayal.
Lillia, Kat, and Mary form an unlikely alliance and decide to take revenge on the people who have hurt them.
2. Fire with Fire (2013)
The revenge plans have consequences that none of the girls anticipated.
Lillia, Kat, and Mary must deal with what happened while their friendship and their plans begin to unravel.
3. Ashes to Ashes (2014)
The trilogy reaches its conclusion as the girls face the consequences of their actions and the secrets surrounding them.
The story becomes increasingly dangerous as the mysteries introduced in the first two books are brought together.
The three-book sequence is:
- Burn for Burn
- Fire with Fire
- Ashes to Ashes
Publisher and series listings confirm this as the complete trilogy.
Shug
Shug (2006)
Shug was Jenny Han’s first published novel and predates both The Summer I Turned Pretty and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
The story follows Annemarie Wilcox, known as Shug, as she navigates the confusing territory between childhood and adolescence. Friendships, family, school, crushes, and the desire to understand where she fits in all become part of her coming-of-age experience.
Because Shug is a standalone novel, there is no required reading order around it.
It is particularly interesting for readers who already know Han from her later books because it shows the early development of the coming-of-age themes that became central to her writing.
Jenny Han Books in Overall Publication Order
If you want to see Jenny Han’s principal fiction in the order she originally published it, rather than reading one series at a time, use this sequence:
- Shug (2006)
- The Summer I Turned Pretty (2009)
- It’s Not Summer Without You (2010)
- Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream (2011)
- We’ll Always Have Summer (2011)
- Burn for Burn (2012)
- Fire with Fire (2013)
- Ashes to Ashes (2014)
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2014)
- P.S. I Still Love You (2015)
- Always and Forever, Lara Jean (2017)
This list covers Han’s principal novels and does not count anthology contributions, companion editions, boxed sets, or the later graphic adaptation as new novels. Current bibliographies agree on the publication sequence of the major series.
Jenny Han’s Anthology Contributions
Jenny Han has also contributed to multi-author anthologies. These should not be confused with additional Jenny Han novels.
My True Love Gave to Me (2014)
My True Love Gave to Me is a holiday romance anthology edited by Stephanie Perkins. It contains 12 short stories by different YA authors, including a contribution from Jenny Han.
Because Han’s story is part of a multi-author collection, the anthology is optional for readers following her novels.
Jenny Han’s Graphic Novel Adaptation
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: The Graphic Novel
A graphic-novel adaptation of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was published in 2026, with Jenny Han credited alongside the graphic adaptation team.
It retells the first Lara Jean story in graphic form rather than continuing the novel series. It therefore should not be placed between To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You as a fourth novel. Current bibliography listings identify it separately as a graphic novel.
Jenny Han Books by Series
| Series or category | Books | Reading order |
| The Summer I Turned Pretty | 3 | The Summer I Turned Pretty → It’s Not Summer Without You → We’ll Always Have Summer |
| To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before | 3 | To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before → P.S. I Still Love You → Always and Forever, Lara Jean |
| Burn for Burn | 3 | Burn for Burn → Fire with Fire → Ashes to Ashes |
| Clara Lee | 1 | Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream |
| Standalone | 1 | Shug |
The Burn for Burn books were co-written with Siobhan Vivian, while the other principal novels listed above are Jenny Han’s own works.
Which Jenny Han Series Should You Read First?
If you are discovering Jenny Han for the first time, there are several distinct entry points.
For summer romance
Start with The Summer I Turned Pretty. The trilogy is built around Belly, Cousins Beach, family traditions, friendship, and a complicated relationship with two brothers.
For romantic comedy and family
Start with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Lara Jean’s story combines romance with a particularly strong focus on family and sisters.
For revenge and suspense
Start with Burn for Burn. It has a darker atmosphere and a different tone from Han’s two major romance trilogies.
For a younger reader
Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream is the natural starting point among Han’s middle-grade fiction.
To see where Jenny Han began
Read Shug. It is her debut novel and offers an earlier look at the coming-of-age themes that appear throughout her later work.
The Summer I Turned Pretty vs. To All the Boys
Jenny Han’s two best-known series are both coming-of-age romances, but they have different central settings and characters.
The Summer I Turned Pretty follows Belly Conklin and her changing relationships with Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher, with Cousins Beach serving as the emotional center of the trilogy.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before follows Lara Jean Covey and her unexpected romantic complications after her private love letters are sent to their intended recipients.
Neither series is a continuation of the other. You can read them in either order.
Do You Need to Read Jenny Han’s Books in Order?
Only within each individual series.
The three Summer I Turned Pretty books should be read in order, as should the three To All the Boys novels and the three Burn for Burn books. Shug and Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream can be read independently.
There is also no requirement to read Han’s series according to overall publication order. A reader can finish one trilogy before starting another without losing any story continuity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jenny Han Books
What is Jenny Han’s first book?
Shug, published in 2006, was Jenny Han’s first published novel. It is a standalone coming-of-age story.
How many books are in The Summer I Turned Pretty series?
There are three novels: The Summer I Turned Pretty, It’s Not Summer Without You, and We’ll Always Have Summer. They were published between 2009 and 2011.
What order should I read The Summer I Turned Pretty books?
Read them in this order: The Summer I Turned Pretty, It’s Not Summer Without You, and We’ll Always Have Summer. Penguin’s series guide confirms this sequence.
How many To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before books are there?
The original Lara Jean story consists of three novels: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, P.S. I Still Love You, and Always and Forever, Lara Jean.
Is Burn for Burn written by Jenny Han?
Yes, but it is a collaboration. Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian co-wrote all three Burn for Burn novels. Simon & Schuster lists the books under both authors.
Is Burn for Burn connected to The Summer I Turned Pretty?
No. Burn for Burn is a separate trilogy with different characters and a different story. It is also darker in tone than The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Is Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream part of The Summer I Turned Pretty?
No. Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream is a separate middle-grade novel and is not connected to Belly’s story.
Is Shug part of a series?
No. Shug is a standalone novel.
What is Jenny Han’s latest book?
Her current bibliography includes a 2026 graphic-novel adaptation of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. This is an adaptation of the original novel, not a new Lara Jean sequel.
Are Jenny Han’s books connected?
Her individual series are separate. The three Summer I Turned Pretty novels form one story, the three To All the Boys novels form another, and the three Burn for Burn novels form a third. Shug and Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream stand independently.
Jenny Han Books in One Simple List
For readers who want the principal novels without the anthology and adaptation material:
- Shug (2006)
- The Summer I Turned Pretty (2009)
- It’s Not Summer Without You (2010)
- Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream (2011)
- We’ll Always Have Summer (2011)
- Burn for Burn (2012)
- Fire with Fire (2013)
- Ashes to Ashes (2014)
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2014)
- P.S. I Still Love You (2015)
- Always and Forever, Lara Jean (2017)
Final Thoughts
Jenny Han’s bibliography is relatively easy to organize once her three main series are kept separate. The Summer I Turned Pretty and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before are her two major romance trilogies, while Burn for Burn offers a darker story of friendship and revenge and Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream is aimed at a younger audience.
For a first Jenny Han series, choose based on the kind of story you want rather than trying to read every book chronologically. Once you start a trilogy, however, stick with its publication order so the relationships and coming-of-age stories unfold naturally.
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